Monday, March 28, 2011

Royals Roster Breakdown - The Hitters.

Moving to the offense…

Catchers

While we hold our breath for Jason Kendall’s return, it looks like, as expected, Brayan Pena will be getting the lion’s share of the duties, with Lucas May as his caddy.

Once thought to be out until June, Kendall rehabbed so vigorously that for a time it was thought he might be back by Opening Day, although that quickly proved overly optimistic. He’s had a “minor” setback which will probably keep him out until May 1st at the earliest. Reading about Kendall’s incessant injury updates in the Kansas City Star reminds me of a typical Mike Sweeney injury, where he was always about two weeks away from coming back. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kendall is out for longer than he’s letting on.

This might sound crazy, given that the decision to sign Jason Kendall and release John Buck is the most inexplicable decision of Dayton Moore’s career, but I’m just not that concerned about Kendall’s eventual return date. That’s partly a reflection on the fact that I’m far from sold on Lucas May’s bat. He’s 26 years old, and took advantage of a great hitters’ park in Albuquerque to put up most of his numbers last year. I assume that Kendall would take May’s roster spot instead of Pena’s, owing to the fact that Pena is a switch-hitter. Moreover, even when Kendall returns I doubt we’ll see a return to his Iron Man ways of old. He’ll probably split the job 50/50 with Pena. Basically, I think we’re going to get 300-400 plate appearances out of Pena this year, and with any luck we’ll find out, once and for all, whether the kid can play or not.

Mostly, though, my lack of concern stems from the fact that 2011 is just a holding pattern anyway. Ned Yost values catcher defense like the former backup catcher that he is, and it just so happens that the Royals have a potential Gold Glove catcher who might also hit a little. By mid-2012, this is Salvador Perez’s job, and everyone else is just fighting for the job of carrying his jock.

Update: I wrote the above words last night, and woke up this morning to find out that the Royals had just bought the rights to Matt Treanor from the Rangers. I shouldn’t be surprised; every year the Royals make a pointless and probably counterproductive acquisition in the waning days of spring training. Last year, it was Luis Mendoza; in 2007, it was Tony Pena Jr. At least Treanor only cost money.

That the Royals thought they needed Treanor is disconcerting. Treanor was actually signed by the Royals out of college back in 1994, then was sent to Florida in 1998 for the unforgettable Matt Whisenant. He wouldn’t make the majors for six more years, in 2004, and credit to him for sticking it out long enough to gain admission into The International Brotherhood of Backup Catchers at the age of 28. He spent four years as the backup in Florida, then resurfaced with the Rangers last year. Along the way, he got married to beach volleyball star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Misty May, and good for him. He’s also 35 years old, and his career line is .227/.311/.310. Which is to say, he’s basically Jason Kendall’s doppelganger at this point.

This almost certainly means that Lucas May won’t make the team. As I said above, I was hardly sold on him to begin with, so that doesn’t trouble me greatly. What troubles me is that, unless Kendall is more hurt than the Royals are letting on, Brayan Pena’s roster spot will be very much in jeopardy in a few weeks. I can hardly think of a more ineffectual catching duo than Kendall and Treanor. If there is one, though, I’m sure the Royals will dredge it up soon. Salvador Perez can’t get here soon enough.

Infielders

Four-fifths of the starting infield/DH have been set in stone since the Greinke trade. Billy Butler and Kila Ka’aihue will alternate between 1B and DH, though it sounds like Ka’aihue will probably get more of the reps there. (This is probably a prelude to Butler becoming a full-time DH once Eric Hosmer arrives.) Alcides Escobar will play shortstop everyday. And Mike Aviles will play one of the other two positions.

Which position Aviles plays depends on whether the Royals want to go with their all-hands unit or not. If it’s defense they want, then Chris Getz will man second base and Aviles play will third. If the offense is in a slump, then Wilson Betemit will play third and Aviles will slide over to the keystone. This being the Royals, we are almost certain to see a lot more of the former than of the latter.

The makeup of the Royals’ infield isn’t a surprise – this is pretty much how the Royals drew it up before spring training began – but if you take a step back, it’s really remarkable that the team is starting Chris Getz over Wilson Betemit. Getz hit slugged .277 last year. In 670 career plate appearances – the equivalent of a full season – Getz has hit .252/.315/.320, with 2 homers and 49 walks. He’s undeniably fast (he has 41 steals in 46 attempts) and he’s at least an average defender at second base. But he simply can’t hit. Or at least he hasn’t so far.

Betemit, meanwhile, hit .297/.378/.511 last season, with 20 doubles and 13 homers in just 276 at-bats. As I’ve written before, Betemit had the highest OPS in Royals history for a part-time player. And yet he rides the bench while Getz plays everyday.

I’d blame the Royals for not taking Betemit seriously, but they’re not the only ones. No other team has expressed any interest in Betemit – we know this because the Royals would almost certainly trade him for any return of value. (The Royals gave him a take-it-or-leave-it $1 million offer, and would have released him had he not agreed to the deal.) I realize that Betemit hadn’t hit very well in Omaha before he was called up, and didn’t hit well in the majors in 2008 and 2009, but from 2005 to 2007 he was an above-average hitter for the Braves. And Betemit was just 28 last season – he’s not even two years older than Getz – so there’s plenty of reasons to think that he will continue to hit. Maybe not as well as he did last year, but well enough to deserve playing time.

I understand why the Royals favor Getz. Not only does he upgrade the defense at second base, but he allows Aviles to play a position more suited to his talents at third base. Much as Alberto Callaspo went from god-awful at second base to surprisingly agile at third, I think Aviles might give the Royals average to plus defense at third base. Throw in Escobar, and the Royals might actually have an above-average infield defense for the first time since Angel Berroa was a rookie. And whereas Betemit is a free agent at the end of the year, Getz is under contract for four more seasons.

I just don’t think that all those advantages outweigh the massive offensive difference between the two. The Royals might consider a quasi-platoon, where Aviles move to second base against left-handed starters and Getz moves to the bench, except that Betemit – last year aside – is a much better hitter against right-handed pitching. (He has a career line of .271/.344/.462 against RHP, but just .249/.304/.401 vs. southpaws.)

One way or the other, the Royals need to get Betemit at-bats. He can hit, and if nothing else, they can set him up to be a valuable trade commodity in July. If he gets as many at-bats as he did last season and hits remotely as well, he might even qualify as a Type B free agent. Playing time for Betemit = more draft picks. Hopefully speaking Dayton Moore’s language will get his attention.

The saving grace here is that the Royals do seem committed to Ka’aihue, at least for a few months, depending on whether Eric Hosmer obliterates Triple-A or just lightly carpet-bombs it. He’s crushed the ball in spring training (.415/.483/.849!), he has an everyday job, he has a PECOTA projection (.262/.387/.473) which is the talk of the sabermetric community, and he has something to prove. I drank the Kool-Aid a while ago. Hawaiian Punch, anyone?

Finally, I think it’s fascinating that the Royals appear to be forgoing a backup middle infielder; I thought when spring training began that either Joaquin Arias or Lance Zawadzki would make the team, but they’re both ticketed for Triple-A. This isn’t a bad thing – on the contrary, by going with only one backup infielder, this allows the Royals to carry two backup outfielders, and since Mitch Maier is guaranteed a spot, this means the Royals can carry Gregor Blanco rather than sending him through waivers.

It’s just that you don’t see teams that are willing to go without a backup shortstop very often. I mean, Earl Weaver was fond of saying that “my backup shortstop is in Rochester,” but then, Earl Weaver’s starting shortstop was Cal Ripken. Presumably, Mike Aviles serves as the team’s backup shortstop in addition to his other duties. It’s a little unconventional, but it could work. I just worry that Ned Yost is going to use Alcides Escobar the way Weaver used Ripken: for every inning of every game.

Outfielders

The starters here are no surprise: Alex Gordon in left field, Melky Cabrera in center, Jeff Francoeur in right. Make fun of that arrangement all you want; I know I have. I will say that I’m incredibly excited to see Gordon in live action this week, both because of his ridiculous numbers this month – he’s hitting .365/.487/.746 this spring even after an 0-for-12 start – and because more and more people who have seen him bat swear that his swing looks…different. Shorter to the ball, not selling out for power, willing to go the opposite way. Maybe it’s a mirage, but hell, March is a time for dreaming. Leave my dreams alone – as a Royals fan, they’re all I have.

The big news here – although again, no surprise – is that The Painkiller, Lorenzo Cain, is slated for Omaha. I’m not as broken up about this as most people, and not just because Melky Cabrera has led the Cactus League with a .474 average this spring. I like Cain, and I think he will and should be the Royals starting centerfielder in 2012. But that doesn’t mean he won’t benefit from some finishing time in the minors. While Cain hit well in 43 games for the Brewers last year, he was still an unfinished product – he had just 9 walks against 28 strikeouts. Moreover, Cain has just 28 games in Triple-A in his career. Particularly for a guy who didn’t start playing baseball full-time until late in high school, a guy who is considered by many to have untapped upside because of his lack of experience, I think another half-season in Triple-A won’t hurt him, and might help.

This isn’t even a service-time thing – in order for the Royals to squeeze another year out of Cain’s indentured servitude, he’d have to stay in the minors for three full months. If Cabrera hits well in the first half, that may in fact be the plan, with Cabrera getting auctioned off in July and Cain sliding into his spot. If Cabrera isn’t hitting well, I don’t think the Royals are going to wait until July to make a move. I know it’s frustrating that we keep having to wait just a little longer to see the real fruits of the youth movement, but in this case I think a little patience is warranted.

Mitch Maier is the fourth outfielder, and deservedly so; he can play all three outfield positions with aplomb, hit .263/.333/.375 last season, and even showed a hint of power from time to time. He’ll probably be the first pinch-hitter off the bench, assuming Ned Yost remembers that the rules allow him to remove Escobar or Treanor from the game against a tough right-handed pitcher.

But as I write this, the fifth outfielder’s role, which until now seemed to be in Gregor Blanco’s hands, has apparently been given to Jarrod Dyson instead – and Blanco (who is out of options) has been placed on waivers. If this is true, the Royals just shot themselves in the foot – and then, while hopping around in pain, sent another slug into their good leg.

This is a terrible waste of two players’ talents. Gregor Blanco isn’t a star, and isn’t going to be a star. But he is an outfielder who can run, play defense at all three positions, and has a career .358 OBP in the majors. He’s just 27 years old. He’s an ideal fourth outfielder if nothing else. I’ve been saying since the day he was acquired that it made no sense to have both Blanco and Maier, because they bring such similar skills to bear. But the solution to that problem is to trade one of them, even for a modest return – not to put one of them on waivers three days before Opening Day.

But even if the Royals didn’t have Blanco in the first place, they’re still screwing things up by keeping Jarrod Dyson. Dyson is a really interesting player – as I wrote last year, he’s the rare guy whose defense and athleticism might actually make up for his inability to hit. And in fact, despite the fact that he’s already 26, there is still the chance Dyson might learn to hit if he could just stay healthy enough to get some reps. In five pro seasons, Dyson has played just 305 games. He’s played a total of 70 games in Double-A in his career, and 46 in Triple-A.

He desperately, desperately needs to be playing on an everyday basis. He has the speed to leg out infield singles and beat out bunt hits almost at will, but only if he develops enough line-drive ability and gap power to make defenses respect him. The only way to develop those skills is through repetition. Instead, he’s going to sit on the bench in Kansas City and get four at-bats a week. He’ll make a hell of a defensive replacement for Cabrera in the late innings, and might even get to play Dave Roberts in the ninth inning every once in a while, but unfortunately, that’s probably all he’s ever going to be.

As it stands, the Royals have thrown away Lucas May and Gregor Blanco in exchange for players who aren’t appreciably better, and rushed Jarrod Dyson and Aaron Crow to the majors, all in the last 48 hours. I still believe that Dayton Moore has earned the right to see this farm system through. But those of you who believe that the Royals will never amount to anything under Moore because of his inability to construct a major league roster…well, you just got some more ammunition for your arguments.

I don't think slotting Dyson into his eventual role of 4th/5th outfielder/pinch runner/defensive replacement this year instead of next year is really that big of a deal. I mean, who do you sit next year to make room for Dyson to start regularly? Myers? Cain? Eibner? Lough? Gordon? Parraz? D-Rob (might be stretching with that one)? All of those guys have higher ceilings than Dyson and are also better than him right now. If Dyson is part of the future, it'll be as a fast guy off the bench. If he can do that job effectively now, there's no reason not to start him on it.

The team has enough talent coming that it doesn't have to pretend "almost good enough" two-tool guys like Dyson are real players. This is a good thing.

I don't mind cutting Blanco because he really doesn't add anything to the team that Mitch Maier doesn't already do. The other issue is where will Dyson play in AAA. Right now the outfield in Omaha is Lough, Orlando, and Cain. I don't want to bench any of those players over Dyson or Blanco. Those three players have way more upside.

Treanor could have been added because Kendall's setback is more serious than they are letting on. It may well be that Treanor/Pena is the catching roster for 2011.

I agree with Sean and Jason (above). Dyson as the 5th outfielder is not a bad thing. I suspect with the inevitable injuries to LF (oops, I mean OF) positions, I'm sure he will see some playing time. Plus I love his disruptive abilities on the base paths.

Agreed on Treanor, but you're seriously getting worked-up about losing Gregor Blanco. I actually think that is a good sign, if that is the most irksome thing to come of Spring Training. We're only one game back for the Cactus League crown!

I'm sorry, I don't see the Blanco move as any reason to criticize GMDM. I see the argument re: Crow, but Blanco is a throw away player, we have several more with his skill set in the minors. I think it shows that the Royals don't believe that Dyson will be anything more than a backup outfielder. Are they wrong for cutting his development off? Maybe, but people would have something to complain about if it were Cain instead of Dyson. As for Betemit, obviously the Royals don't think his offense will make up for his defense and his history tells you that's true when he plays too much.

Why are so many of the Royals' rookies-to-be 26 or 27 years old? Didn't there use to be a time in baseball history where Spring Training was about finding the best 25 players? Cain outplayed Franceour, but doesn't win the job. Several infielders outplayed Getz, but they get sent down. Everyone expects Hosmer and Moustakis to come up and play mid-season. Why? Is Moustakis a better hitter than Aviles? No. Did the best catcher in camp win the position? Doubtful. Almost every roster decision appears to have been determined before the trucks unloaded in Surprise. It seems it is next-to-impossible for a Royals player to win a job in Spring Training. Perhaps this is why the Royals have been so bad for so long. They don't play their best players at the major-league level.

Hahahahhaha, ive only read the catchers but i have to say that part on the International Backup Catchers Brotherhood really cracked me up, and the part about him being Kendall's doppleganger. man that was some sly schnye humor

I'm in the majority with comments left here. No May, no Blanco, no big deal. These guys, and most the 25-man roster, are placeholders. There will be a need to gain value-add from some of these guys over the next 12-24 months.

For example, I could see Crow gaining value and experience over the next 15 months, and if he doesn't fit into the teams 2013-15 plans, trade him for a minor leaguer at the 2012 trade deadline. At some point we will be TOO STOCKED at the ML-AAA level and 40-man roster, so now GMDM needs to develop a sustainability plan.

I think you are getting too worked up about the fate of fringe players. I doubt there is a robust trade market for Gregor Blanco 3 days before the season starts. If you are trying to trade him, teams know he is going to hit waivers soon. Maybe the Royals have just decided that players like May, Blanco, and Dyson don't have the skills needed to be a part of the big picture. If so, give them credit for not wasting any more time developing these guys. If they go somewhere else and blossom now, then we can criticize. But for the moment, we all konw they are fringe players at best once the main talent starts arriving.

Of course, losing Blanco is not a terrible thing. That isn't the point. GMDM went out of his way to acquire this guy when we had a player just like him (Maier)and he is just going to throw him on the scrap heap. Once again a clear sign of roster mismanagement.

If Francoeur has to be replaced the Royals will move Melky to RF and Cain to become the CF. That still leaves Maier as the fourth OFer and Dyson going to Omaha for regular playing time.

What a shame it is that Betemit cannot field a batted ball. That would end the flirtation with Getz.

Blanco could still be a 'nice little player'. Not particularly valuable but OK. The point is, I think, that the Royals cannot affort to throw away any value. They just can't afford to have any wasted resources and still compete.

kcghost-Went out of his way to acquire him?? Blanco was a throw in to the Tim Collins deal, that's it, that's all. It's not like Blanco was the centerpiece of the deal for us. See if he has anything to show us and see if he can contribute. They obviously have decided that he doesn't have a future with the club. "A clear sign of roster mismanagement" is going WAAAYYY too far. Every team acquires guys one year and tosses them on the scrap heap the next. Especially teams like the Royals who are always in search of cheap "diamond in the rough" type talent.

For those of you hoping Francouer plays bad enough that he loses his job then you are nuts. Hasn't he done that all ready in spring training? Dayton is like that one buddy with the psycho girlfriend that he won't dump. Everyone else sees it as a horrible relationship but him.

Oh, and Getz is a joke of a player. He and Frenchy wouldn't be in the conversation as starters anywhere else.

FYI, Jordan Parraz isn't a Royal anymore. He was waived last fall, picked up by the Red Sox, and is now in the Yankees organization. But your point is still valid. There are better options than Dyson at even AAA, so why not use his talents (speed and defense, which really don't need that much more development) at the MLB level when there is no real probability that he's ever going to hit enought to be more than a PR/defensive replacement.

I think it is a little funny that Rany picks Coleman, May, and Blanco to make the roster just a day before all of them get beat out. (To be fair, May would have made it if the Treanor-for-cash surprise didn't come out of nowhere.)

I agree with most, Blanco is no catch and I was rooting for Dyson to make the team anyway because I love his speed. (Does anyone know if he can jump over a car???)

I'm glad to get a sneak peak of Jeffress, Collins and Crow.

However, I have the same concerns about Jeffress' control and the potential for the big inning. Check out his line today: 1 inning, THREE WALKS, 1 hit, 1 ER, 2 Ks. Get used to it. Let's just hope he doesn't get busted again for the hippie lettuce.

I can't wait to see Collins getting ML hitters out and watching them go back to the dugout trying to figure out how a kid that looks like a high-school sophomore just sat them down on three pitches.

As for Crow, I sure hope he's ready. There is no doubt that his results have been a huge disappointment in the minors. How that justifies a trip to the show, I just don't get it. I don't think his start in the bullpen will mean he has to stay there. Heck, it sure gave Greinke a shot in the arm towards starting dominance. Let's just hope his stuff manifests at the big-league level.

I don't think these moves condemns GMDM. However, the Crow thing is the one move that baffles me a bit. PLEASE don't let this go from the "best farm system ever" to the beginning of the "greatest mismanagement of potential talent ever". We've been watch the latter for the past 25 years.

On an up note, even though 'spring training means nothing', it's fun to note that the Royals exit camp as the best team in baseball. (or possibly tied for 1st with the Giants if they win tonight)Cool.

And Blanco is trash and a waste of a roster spot thats gonna go to some prospect soon enough. Rany needs to calm down about that one. hes right about the DM screwing up the catcher situation though. sick of Kendall. soon to be sick of Treanor. hell im sick of anything not salvador perez

questionable move after awful move at the major league level, and yet delusional royals fans think they're going to be in the playoffs in 2 years. TINSTAAPP. There is zero proof that Dayton Moore has any idea how to put together a major league roster. Knowing dayton moore, most of these "hot prospects" will probably peak in the minors before they get a chance at the major leagues. The two best hitters on the team spent the majority of last season in the minor leagues. Your catching prospects will be lucky to get a majority of the at-bats at the position by 2015. What's to stop GMDM from trading 2 of these top prospects for someone like Corey Hart? Certainly not common sense.